Monday Morning Quarterback Week 11

Matchup

The Good

The Bad

Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins

Ryan Fitzpatrick did not do anything spectacular for the Bills, but he kept drives alive with accurate passing and he did not throw any interceptions. That’s all that was required for the Bills to get a rare win.

The Dolphins are struggling after a surge early in the year and Ryan Tannehill is learning how difficult life is in the NFL. He completed 14-of-28 passes for 141 yards and he threw 2 interceptions.

Atlanta Falcons

Arizona Cardinals

Very little to say about the quarterback play in this game. The only positive note is that Matt Ryan led the Falcons to a comeback victory after trailing by 13 points and he threw for 301 yards.

Ryan had one of the worst games of his career. He threw 5 interceptions and kept the Cardinals in the game. Cardinal head coach Ken Whisenhunt was sick of the statue-like John Skelton, so he inserted Ryan Lindley at quarterback. He threw for an ineffective 64 yards.

Josh Freeman continues to come through in the clutch. He threw the game-tying touchdown pass and two-point conversion in the final second and then hit Dallas Clark with the game-winning TD pass in overtime. Freeman threw for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Cam Newton had a decent statistical game and did not throw an interception, but he was unable to take command and lead the Panthers on consistent scoring drives. That’s what would have been needed to put the Bucs away.

The ground game was invisible for the Cowboys so Tony Romo had to put the ball up 50 times. He completed 35 of his throws for 313 yards and did not throw an interception. Rookie Brandon Weeden threw 2 TD passes and also avoided getting picked off.

While neither quarterback threw any interceptions, both Romo and Weeden lost fumbles and they have to do a better job of taking care of the ball. Romo and the Cowboys offense started the game as if they were sleepwalking.

Aaron Rodgers threw the perfect, game-winning touchdown pass to Randall Cobb in the final two minutes to give the Packers the win even though they did not play their best game. Rodgers threw for 236 yards and also threw one other touchdown pass.

Matthew Stafford struggled to put together a consistent effort. He completed only 17-of-39 passes and he threw 2 key interceptions. Stafford has not been as effective as he was a year ago.

A spectacular game for quarterback Matt Schaub. The Texans got all they wanted from the lowly Jaguars and Schaub was forced to put the ball up 55 times. He threw for 527 yards and 5 touchdowns. Chad Henne was forced to come into the game after Blaine Gabbert injured his elbow and he threw for 354 yards and 4 TDs in relief. Henne did not throw an interception.

Schaub threw 2 interceptions that gave the Jaguars hope they could compete with the AFC’s best team. Henne could not move the Jaguars on their last possession in overtime and that led to Jacksonville head coach Mike Mularkey’s ill-fated decision to go for it on 4th-and-10 instead of punt.

Andy Dalton played his second strong game in a row, completing 18-of-29 passes for 230 yards. He also threw 2 TD passes and he did not throw an interception. Dalton also ran for a second-quarter touchdown that gave the Bengals control of the game.

Matt Cassel played another poor game for the Chiefs and he was replaced by veteran Brady Quinn. Neither quarterback reached the 100-yard mark and the Chiefs could not get into the end zone.

New York Jets

St. Louis Rams

It’s been a disastrous season for Mark Sanchez, but he put the bad times behind him and had a solid game against the Rams. Sanchez completed 15-of-20 passes for 178 yards with a touchdown and he did not throw an interception. Sam Bradford threw 2 touchdown passes for the Rams.

Bradford did not have a consistent day for the Rams. He completed 23-of-44 passes for just 170 yards.

In a season full of sensational games, Robert Griffin III set a new standard. He completed 14-of-15 passes for 200 yards. RGIII had 4 TD passes and he also ran for 84 yards with a long of 28 yards. Prior to the start of the game, the Redskins voted RGIII captain of the team and he clearly responded to that decision.

The Eagles may be the biggest mess in football. Mick Foles started for the injured Michael Vick. Foles completed 21-of-46 passes and threw 2 interceptions.

Drew Brees has got the Saints back into a spot where they can save their season. The Saints climbed back to the .500 mark with the win and Brees completed 20-of-27 passes for 219 yards and he also threw 3 TD passes. Carson Palmer did his part to keep the Raiders in the game, throwing for 312 yards.

Palmer threw a first-quarter interception that was returned 55 yards for a touchdown by Malcolm Jenkins. After that pick, the Raiders were forced to abandon their running game and throw the ball for four quarters.

The Patriots played their best all-around game of the season. Tom Brady did his part, throwing for 331 yards and 3 TDs without throwing an interception. Andrew Luck knew he would have to come out throwing to trade points with Brady and he had 334 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Luck couldn’t keep up with Brady, in large part because the Patriots pass defense played its best game of the year. Luck threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

Peyton Manning continues to ride out a hot streak. He was calm, cool and efficient in throwing for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns. Manning threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter and he shook that mistake off as if it were nothing and calmly took apart the Chargers.

Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes, but he also threw two interceptions. Unlike Manning, he could not shake off those mistakes. Once he turned the ball over, he lost his cool and he did not play consistently.

Baltimore Ravens

Pittsburgh Steelers

Byron Leftwich got the call since Ben Roethlisberger is out with rib and shoulder injuries and he started the game by leading the Steelers on a touchdown drive that he culminated with a 31-yard TD run. Joe Flacco did not do much for the Ravens, but he avoided throwing any interceptions.

After the opening drive, Leftwich was battered by the Baltimore defense and he was laboring throughout the game. He appeared to be in pain and he could not throw the ball with any authority.